With the so-called knife intifada exacting its toll of Jewish and Palestinian blood every few days, Israel is not happy with the voices currently emanating from Arab capitals. But suddenly, among the raucous condemnation of the injustice of Israel’s occupation, a melodious tone was heard from a Muslim capital. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir told the Saudi newspaper Al-Okaz March 14 that “even if Israel had conquered Syria, it would not have inflicted the destruction taking place there right now, would not have killed the number of people killed so far and would not have expelled people the way they are being expelled now.”

The comments by the Sudanese leader, who is wanted on suspicion of war crimes, were obviously directed first and foremost against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Over the past two years, Bashir has formed a new alliance with the Saudi-Sunni axis to replace his love affair with Shiite Iran, Assad’s patron. Nonetheless, it is not every day that Israel rates a positive mention from the leader of a state that dabbles in sending weapons to Hamas and other factions in the Gaza Strip.

This is not the first time that Khartoum has eyed Jerusalem, while setting its sights on Washington. Like many, the Sudanese apparently believe that Jews control the world and they can influence the Americans to help other countries. At a conference held in Khartoum in January — as part of the national dialogue meetings, aimed at reconciling the armed militias — it was suggested that Sudan’s hostile policy toward Israel was damaging its ties with the United States. Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said in response that he was willing to examine the issue of normalizing relations with Israel.

Israel is following the messages from Sudan with curiosity, but is careful not to get too close. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon are quietly awaiting a signal from the United States in regard to relations with Khartoum. But as often happens in Israeli politics, a diplomatic rookie who was given a senior post, blabbed and provided the missing pieces of the puzzle. Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan said in a Jan. 26 interview with The Times of Israel, “We don’t have to be different than the entire Western world. The Western world — the US and Europe — have relations with Sudan, and with Saudi Arabia and other countries. I don’t think we need to be any different.” According to Ben-Dahan, Israel “can contribute a lot to Sudan, in many areas.”